Media Release

WELFARE SUPPORT FOR DEFENCE FAMILIES

The Defence Community Organisation (DCO) of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) provides a comprehensive range of services and programs designed to assist the wellbeing of ADF personnel and their families or support them in personal or family crises.

A range of support initiatives are being offered for the families of ADF members; some of these are offered by existing Defence family groups or broader community organisations in cooperation with the DCO.

The DCO has offices in 33 locations around Australia and its staff include family liaison officers, social workers, military liaison officers and regional education liaison officers.

For general enquiries by families about the deployment and information about available support services call the Family Information Network for Defence (FIND) number on 1800 020 031.

A National Welfare Coordination Centre (NWCC) is available as a point of contact for support services for families and next of kin for deployed personnel.

The NWCC will be staffed 24 hours a day and their telephone contact details will be provided to those family members nominated by ADF members as their next of kin.

If families have welfare concerns the NWCC can be contacted or contact can be made with the nearest DCO office by calling the FIND number.

General messages of support can be sent by e-mail to peacekeepers@defence.gov.au or faxed to 02 6201 9222.

General information on the deployment to East Timor can be found by searching the defence website www.defence.gov.au and looking at the East Timor Update page. Information about services can also be found on the DCO website www.dco.dod.gov.au.

Issued by the Defence Public Affairs Organisation, Department of Defence, Canberra, ACT, 2600

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